This is NOT a regular blog, but rather an occasional diary piece!

July 2011  

I've been particularly struck by the sculptural form of even the most ordinary plants. The flowerheads of Echinops and Teasel in the garden show the universal geometric sequence identified by Fibonacci while the sunflowers growing on the allotment have the same sequence in the arrangement of their seeds. All are hugely attractive to all sorts of bees, as you can see, and later Goldfinches will visit their persistant seedheads for welcome food in the winter. Sometimes, Mathematics can be beautiful.

                           

 August

August is often a tricky month in the garden. The first flush of summer flowers are over and there may be a lull until the blaze of colour comes back in September. On top of this, many people are away for a summer break and, on returning to the garden, find that it has all gone over. The lawn and the weeds have grown in the warm and often wet weather and the rest of the garden seems to have flopped, especially if it lacks good, structural planting.  It's easy to lose heart but not too hard to get it all straightened up.  It's amazing how mowing the lawn and cutting the edges makes the whole garden look managed again.  It's rather like putting a frame on a painting.

DO try this at home.........

It is often difficult to find enough activities for children during the summer holidays but here's one which will give lasting interest for the whole family. Children, in my experience, love bugs and will enjoy using their ingenuity making a multi-storey insect hotel like these. I was inspired by one I saw at St Bridget's Garden Centre where, together with the Devon Wildlife Trust, they have made a small butterfly garden filled with plants which will attract beneficial insects which, in turn, will help increase the biodiversity in our gardens. Most of the materials for my bug houses came from skips although I did buy the very splendid ridge tiles from a reclamation yard (£5 each)and the alpine plants for the green roofs. It is fun to research how to provide as many different hiding places as possible for spiders, over-wintering butterflies, ladybirds etc and for nesting bees. You may like to supervise the use of some carpentry tools but a very satisfactory bug hotel can be achieved by simply stacking the different layers (but SAFELY). Insects appreciate warmth and shelter but toads and newts will like a shady, cooler spot.

 

               

What a pleasure!

I had a card from clients recently.  I designed their garden in the Catherdral Close and The Garden Team built it, completing it in early summer 2008. They wrote to tell me how much they had been enjoying their garden and how, if I were passing, I must call in and take a look. I'm so glad I did. It was a joy to see how well the plants had filled out, despite last winter's cold, and to know how much they are using it.  See more photos of this garden in the Smaller Gardens section of Recent Projects 

                  

The allotment plots.

August is the time to prune established and trained apples and pears.  We have espaliered apples forming a living fence along one side of the allotment. We have included varieties which are suitable to the location and difficult to find in the shops and markets. They have lovely names such as Tom Putt, St Edmund's Pippin and Pitmaston Pineapple -  and a great flavours. Pitmaston Pineapple really does have a pineapply tang!  Cut all the new side shoots back to two leaves now to let light in to ripen the fruit and to encourage fruiting spurs for next year.

                    

We have grown aubergines in the greenhouse for the first time as well as sweet peppers and have been gratified by the crop. The outdoor tomatoes have done well, especially the early variety Stupice and the plum tree is full of fruit. It's lovely to be able to share the harvest with friends and neighbours.